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Atlanta Police said Wednesday they have taken Deion Patterson, 24, into custody. He is suspected of entering a downtown medical office building and opening fire. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Police Department/Twitter
May 3 (UPI) — A man suspected of shooting five women inside an Atlanta medical facility waiting room is in custody, according to police who said one woman was killed and four others were injured, including three critically.
The Atlanta Police Department announced the apprehension of Deion Patterson, 24, following a manhunt that lasted almost eight hours. Police say he was arrested near the Truist Park baseball stadium after stealing a pickup truck near the scene of the shooting.
Officers managed to narrow Patterson’s location after the license plate on the stolen truck was detected by a plate reader in Cobb County, northwest of downtown Atlanta.
“These are massively complex investigations,” Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer told reporters Wednesday evening.
While Patterson was still at large, VanHoozer said police were called to various locations by callers who had reported seeing him. An undercover officer was the first to confront Patterson before backup was called and he was taken into custody without incident.
The shooting took place shortly after noon inside an 11th floor waiting room of a Northside Hospital building, on West Peachtree Street. Police say a man, who had been accompanied by his mother, became enraged during an office visit and opened fire. Patterson’s mother was not injured in the shooting.
“There have been no additional shots fired since the initial incident unfolded. We are currently aware of four shooting victims related to this situation. Three have been transported to the hospital for treatment and a fourth has been pronounced deceased on scene. Officers are actively searching for the suspect and any other victims,” Atlanta police tweeted shortly after the shooting.
Patterson, who police warned was still armed, was taken into custody around 8 p.m. Officers said his family has been cooperating in the investigation.
Three of the four women injured in the shooting are considered “critically ill” and are in the intensive care unit, according to Dr. Robert Jansen, the chief medical officer at Grady Health. Two of the patients underwent surgery Wednesday. A third victim underwent an interventional radiology procedure to repair vascular injuries. A fourth victim is in stable condition.
The victims have not been identified and it is not known at this time whether they were patients or hospital employees.
The Northside Hospital building, where the shooting took place, will be closed Thursday and all appointments canceled.
The hospital, which houses a cancer center, a radiology unit and orthopedics, issued a statement after the shooting, saying “this tragedy is affecting all of us, and we ask for patience and prayers at this time.”
According to Atlanta Public Schools, several schools were locked down and parents were advised not to try to pick up children during the lockdown.
“As the area immediately surrounding 1110 West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta remains under a shelter-in-place due to an active shooter, several Atlanta Public Schools buildings (schools and offices) will operate on exterior lockdown for the reminder of the day, out of an abundance of caution, until we receive further information from authorities,” APS said in a public safety message on their website earlier Wednesday.
President Joe Biden was also briefed on the shooting and expressed his frustration over recurring gun violence, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
By Wednesday evening, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was calling for gun reform including universal background checks to make sure “those who shouldn’t have guns don’t have them.”
“We all need to do our part to stop these horrific acts from happening again and again,” Dickens told reporters.
And Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered prayers for the victims as he thanked police for their work in apprehending the suspect.
“We are heartbroken by today’s tragedy in Midtown Atlanta and join all Georgians in praying for those impacted and their loved ones,” the governor said in a tweet.
“We’re also thanking God for the brave local and state law enforcement who responded forcefully and without hesitation. Thanks to their efforts, the shooter is now in custody and will face justice.”
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